Coaches Gather for Parcells

Coaches Gather for Parcells

Article excerpt

WOOD-RIDGE -- Bill Parcells came home to North Jersey -- this
time for one reason and one reason only.

It's because Mickey Corcoran asked.

Parcells returned Tuesday night to serve as the keynote speaker
at the coaching symposium established by Corcoran, his mentor, as a
joint venture between the Bergen County Coaches Association and the
Bergen County Women Coaches Association.

An estimated 250 high school coaches from various sports crowded
inside a banquet room at The Fiesta and gleaned as much advice as
they could from someone most considered one of their own: a native
of Hasbrouck Heights and Oradell resident whose journey as a three-
sport varsity star at River Dell to two-time Super Bowl winner as
coach of the Giants to eventual Pro Football Hall of Famer that
turned him into an icon in these parts.

"My father was from Hackensack and my mother grew up about 300
yards from here up that hill in Hasbrouck Heights," said Parcells,
73. "This is still home to me, and I love coming back to North
Jersey [from his residence in Florida] as often as I can, at least
once a year. But I'm here tonight because my man asked me to.
Mickey, that's my guy."

Corcoran, 93, a Dumont resident, is a living link between
Parcells and Vince Lombardi, who coached Corcoran at the now-closed
St. Cecilia High School in Englewood. Corcoran was in attendance
Tuesday and shared a warm embrace with Parcells upon his arrival.

When Parcells took the stage, he opened with remarks about
Corcoran and how his presence shaped his life on and off the
football field.

"He's been everything to me. ... I love you, pal," Parcells said.

River Dell volleyball coach Dianne Furusawa discussed ways to
give back to the coaching profession, while Pascack Hills boys
basketball and baseball coach Kevin Kirkby talked about the benefits
of multisport athletes.

Parcells made a point to support Kirkby, saying if he had chosen
to play just one sport in high school, he would have given up
football and basketball for baseball. …